Jordy Tshimanga has started 18 games for Nebraska this season. (World-Herald News Service)

Nebraska basketball officials confirmed Thursday afternoon that Jordy Tshimanga wasn’t on the team plane headed for Friday’s game at Penn State, and that the sophomore’s future with the Huskers was in limbo.

Rumblings that the center was seeking to transfer began to percolate early Thursday afternoon.

Those around the team who heard about it were shocked, as the 6-foot-11, 268-pound Montreal native has started all 18 games this season and was coming off his best all-around game — nine points and six rebounds in Tuesday’s win over Wisconsin.

The other head-scratching part about seeking a release now is that the second semester has started and a game has been played.

Nebraska spent two years recruiting Tshimanga out of The MacDuffie School in Granby, Massachusetts. He picked NU over UNLV and Minnesota.

As a freshman, he played 31 games and started nine, averaging 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds. In his last 11 games last season, he averaged 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Tshimanga underwent minor cleanup knee surgery during fall camp and has struggled to regain form this season.